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Sorry this is kind of long.... I am a first timer! :-)
I am due on July 3rd. Saw my doctor today and after he spoke to another doctor, they decided that if I haven't gone into labor by next Tuesday (which happens to be July 3rd), they want to admit me to the hospital to see about inducing me.
For the record, I have no had any "signs" of labor yet. Every so often through out the day, my stomach will tighten up to where it's uncomfortable, but it's only about 5 times a day or so and not consistent at all. We also live about 40 minutes from the hospital & I'm GSB positive.
They want me to come in Monday afternoon & they are going to check my cervix. If it's open, they will admit me Wednesday morning. If it's closed, they'll admit me Tuesday night.
I was fine and dandy with it, almost relieved knowing there was this plan. Then a friend of mine started questioning why they were going to induce me so close to my due date vs waiting. She also mentioned her L & D nurse friend said inducing will make labor harder & can increase the chance of c-section by 60% as well as increase the need for the baby to have to go to the NICU.
She basically completely freaked me out. My doctor has been really great the whole pregnancy, never making me feel like he was pushing things just to "get it done" or anything and always explaining things so I guess I was just thinking they are doing what's best and looking out for the baby & me.
Help! :-/
Last edited by MannyMommy; June 30th, 2012 at 12:19 PM.
I'm surprised that your OB is doing this over a holiday! Are you in the US? Usually ob's do this a few days before or after a holiday... maybe he has weekend plans. (I hate to say that I think this is more about him and less about you).
Personally, your nurse friend is right. I'd wait until 41 weeks at least to see if you spontaneously go into labor. Especially since you are due the week of a full moon. That would be so much easier on you and the baby if you were to experience your own labor over induced labor. I wouldn't get an induction for no reason. Inductions are REALLY hard work (the majority, but not ALL of the time).
I have had very good experiences with being induced (yes, I know the statistics). However, I have been induced 3 seperate times and had a vaginal delivery with everyone and no complications.
I understand this is not everyone's story. When you go back ask ALL of your questions to your OB so that you can feel comfortable with any decision you make.
Most likely he is thinking of you and your baby, because if all he cared about was the holiday he would not be suggesting inducing you the day before the 4th of July.
You just have to feel comfortable with whatever you decide.....and remember it is your decision no matter which way you go.....induction vs. waiting.
I imagine there must be a REASON. Like I said, the doctors (there's the resident I see every time and a 2nd doctor who looks over me as well) have always been really good. For some reason it just didn't occur to me until later to WHY now...
Thank you for the info. :-) Thankfully I also see the doctor Monday so I'll be able to ask all these questions that popped into my mind AFTER I left. That always seems to happen to me. lol
It sounds like the doctor has some weekend plans (4th of July...). Plus, inductions do increase risks of other interventions. Not just a c-section, but epidurals, vacuum or forceps, etc.
I would ask the doctor what the indications are that an induction needs to occur AT 40 weeks. Additionally, I would demand NST and ultrasound to ensure the baby's health. If the baby does not "pass" a NST and ultrasound (the biophysical profile I think it is called). The baby and/or placenta are showing signs of distress/aging is when I would personally consider an induction.
Please, please educate yourself of possible "side effects" of induction. I normally say its good to trust your doctor and medical team, but something seems very fishy considering a normal pregnancy ranges from 37-42 weeks. If nothing is out of the norm - both mom and baby are healthy - induction at 40 weeks seems very off.
Sometimes I feel like the more a doctor or medical staff tries to convince and talk to you of their "plan", its more reassurance for themselves. Its your baby and your body, you decide not them!
Seeing as dates can be off a few days, I'm not sure why he wants to induce at "exactly" 40 weeks.
Sometimes having wee one bake an extra couple days is good. My friends daughter was "overdue by like 2 weeks". And it was a good thing. Her lungs needed that extra time to develope.
Personally unless you or your baby are having complications, I'd wait a week.
Thank you every for your opinions and stories. It's very helpful to hear from the "horse's mouth", vs my friend's friend.
I don't personally think that it has to do with the holiday. My doctor's office is in the hospital and they also work within the hospital, so if the doctor I've been seeing is "unavailable", they would just send another doctor. (He actually mentioned he had just gotten back from a last minute conference the day before my appointment and he was glad I was still pregnant since he's been gone)
But I do think I was a bit overwhelmed by being nervous in general, that I just took the news as it was vs asking really any questions. I was really nervous before this appointment for some reason. Like I said, it was after I got home that the questions started popping into my head.
I have a list of questions to ask, as well as quite a bit of internet research (probably too much), so I feel after seeing the doctor on Monday, and getting these answers, my husband and I will feel much more comfortable with whichever decision we decide.
I would ask them to check your cervix and maybe do the 'stripping" of the cervix(maybe called something else) where they try and dislodge the muscous membranes....That sometimes gets contractions going....
If he doesn't have a good reason I wouldn't do it. No need to unnecessarily put yourself at higher risk for a csection. The other thing I wouldn't like is that you will be stuck laboring in bed. My labor was so much easier when I could stand during contractions! I went one day over with my last and my OB would have let me go to 42 weeks with NSTs starting at 41 weeks.
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Thank you Natalie (MrsStuartD) for my Beautiful Siggy!!!
~Cara, Mom to Elizabeth (12/5/07) and Alison (8/12/10)~~
